Study Area and OFWs

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Water Quality Standards


62-302.530 FAC

Surface Water Quality Criteria

  • (48)(b) In no case shall nutrient concentrations of a body of water be altered so as to cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna.

  • Numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion in paragraph 62-302.530(48)(b), F.A.C., shall be expressed as spatial averages and applied over a spatial area consistent with their derivation. In applying the water quality standards, the Department shall take into account the variability occurring in nature and shall recognize the statistical variability inherent in sampling and testing procedures.


62-302.532 FAC

Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion

Outstanding Florida Waters

62-302.700 FAC

Special Protection, Outstanding Florida Waters, Outstanding National Resource Waters

  • The policy of this section shall be implemented through the permitting process pursuant to Rule 62-4.242, F.A.C.

    1. For each Outstanding Florida Water listed under subsection 62-302.700(9), F.A.C., the last day of the baseline year for defining the existing ambient water quality (paragraph 62-4.242(2)(c), F.A.C.) is March 1, 1979, unless otherwise indicated. Where applicable, Outstanding Florida Water boundary expansions are indicated by date(s) following “as mod.” under subsection 62-302.700(9), F.A.C. For each Outstanding Florida Water boundary which expanded subsequent to the original date of designation, the baseline year for the entire Outstanding Florida Water, including the expansion, remains March 1, 1979, unless otherwise indicated.



62-4.242(2) FAC

Antidegradation Permitting Requirements; Outstanding Florida Waters; Outstanding National Resource Waters

    1. “No Department permit or water quality certification shall be issued for any proposed activity or discharge within an Outstanding Florida Waters, or which significantly degrades, either alone or in combination with other stationary installations…”

Stated otherwise, if an upstream discharge ultimately flows into a downstream OFW (i.e., the discharge to the OFW is indirect), then the upstream discharge cannot significantly degrade the OFW. Because no proposed project is expected to constitute a direct discharge into an OFW or to significantly degrade an OFW, any additional OFW requirements are unlikely to apply.